20201221 Addressing 25th Jagrata Catra Samāja Students

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
hariḥ oṁ tat sat

Jayapatākā Swami: I am very happy to address the Jagrata Catra Samāja. Śrīla Prabhupāda said that these students are the future of our country. And definitely the students of this group are intelligent. There was a prediction made in the 10^th canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. That Lord Caitanya will appear. He is Kṛṣṇa Himself, but He will appear as His devotee. Along with Him will appear His light, His strength, His associates, His devotees. And He will preach the Harināma saṅkīrtana, chanting of the holy names. Those who are intelligent will follow Him. Now this Jagrata Catra Samāja students are very intelligent and therefore are following Lord Caitanya’s teachings. The general people in this material world think that material happiness is everything. But we know that this multicolored material world is only for a moment and temporary. But our relationship with Kṛṣṇa is permanent and eternal. But in this material world we have to study and deal with others. But we know that the real truth is Kṛṣṇa. And that is why we chant the names of Kṛṣṇa, serve Kṛṣṇa and read His teachings. That is why it is called Jagrata Catra – Awakened Students. Why is it awakening? That is because these students have got over māyā. And that way they chant the name of Kṛṣṇa and how Kṛṣṇa is present in everyone’s heart is known to them and realized by them. And that way they experience great bliss.

In this material world, birth, death, sickness and old age are the real problems. If we have find a solution to these the only way is through devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. Other than devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, there is no other way. Now, after taking so many births.

brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
[Cc Mdhya 19.151]

We were taking so many births earlier and in so many different universes. And now by devotional service to Kṛṣṇa and the mercy of the spiritual master, we can end our repeated birth and death cycles. Gṛhe thāko vane thāko sadā hari bole ḍāko – Those who have families, who are brahmacārīs or renunciants, all can chant the holy names of Kṛṣṇa all the time. That way, from the present situation we are in, we can also go back home back to Godhead. It is said that to cut a tree, we have to give a support first and then cut the tree. Similarly, in this material world, if we have the support of service to Kṛṣṇa with us, then we can escape the clutches of māyā. I am very grateful that Ānanda Vardhana Prabhu is involved in service of this Jagrata Catra Samāja. And this way, the students in their young age are able to understand what is the real purpose of life. There are many learned scholars, teachers, who do not understand this. That way, we will in a humble way mix around with all the students and learn the real purpose of our life. That way we chant the names of Kṛṣṇa, we have good association. If we do this way, our life will be perfected. There is no difference between Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa’s name. That way, if we chant the names of Kṛṣṇa, then our lives will be perfected.

Ordinarily people are worried about their body. They don’t understand that they are actual ātmā, soul. And that the soul has a body. When the soul passes out of this material body, this body perishes and dies. The material body may be beautiful, but when the soul leaves that body, the body is no longer beautiful. That we understand that the soul is really beautiful. Because the soul is present the material body is beautiful. That way, the intelligence that we have in this human form of life is to understand the soul. The soul is eternal and part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. So being part of Kṛṣṇa, we should be serving Kṛṣṇa. If we serve Kṛṣṇa, we can experience happiness. Because we are part of Kṛṣṇa. Like our hand is a part of our body. If that hand is healthy, it will serve the body. Like play cricket, football, using our hands we can do anything then. But if the hand is not healthy then we cannot do what we desire. Like that this conditioned soul is like unhealthy or sick and do not want to serve Kṛṣṇa. They don’t understand the relationship they have with Kṛṣṇa. This way, their life becomes kind of useless. But if they understand and serve Kṛṣṇa, then their lives are perfected. I was given to understand that you students normally come to Māyāpur once a year. But because of this pandemic, we are this year having a virtual meet. Whatever, I am very grateful that we have had this opportunity and I have been able to get your association. I am feeling that I am unable to give you some prasāda. But at least I am able to speak Hari-kathā, to all of you.

If Ānanda Vardhana Prabhu could show you mahā-prasāda, then Kṛṣṇa with His eyes can accept it, but for us that has to be put in our mouth, and from the mouth to the stomach and get digested. I visit many homes on virtual visits and many offer variety of prasāda to me, and that prasāda has no calories but there is lot of devotion in that. Now, there is great bliss in chanting the names of Kṛṣṇa, singing kṛṣṇa-kīrtana, dancing for Kṛṣṇa. I hope all of you are feeling happiness in the association of His Holiness Bhakti Vijaya Bhāgavata Swami. When he was addressing you, I only heard a part of his talk, could not hear the whole thing. I received a letter from Śrīla Prabhupāda when he had reached Melbourne, Australia. There the press reporters told him, Prabhupāda, “You have come from India which is a poor country and Australia is a rich country. What have you come to take from us?” Śrīla Prabhupāda then answered them, “I have not come to take anything from you. I have come to give you liberation from a cat’s and dog’s life.” The reporters retorted, what do you mean, “Are we leading a cat’s and dog’s life?” Śrīla Prabhupāda said, “See what the dogs do. Whatever they get the eat. And you go and eat in hotels or restaurants. And you eat with forks and knives and spoons. But the eating is the same.” Then Śrīla Prabhupāda gave example of, “How you sleep, how man and woman unite, and how they fight. So these are very basic things. This human life is meant for doing devotional service to Kṛṣṇa and knowing Kṛṣṇa. If not, we are living the life of a lowly animal.” The next day in one of the daily newspapers, there was the headline that “A Swami has come from India to save us from a cat’s and dog’s life!” And in small letters was written “He has come to hound us!” Meaning the hound is here to get the cats and dogs! Whatever he says he will liberate us from the cat’s and dog’s life.

This way may the students of the Jagrata Catra Samāja preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. I hope that your lives are successful. And taking these teachings of Lord Caitanya you will preach. I end my talk here. And give my good wishes to you. Kṛṣṇe matir astu! Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare! Nitāi Gaura Hari bol!